First Campout of the year ---- Cow Creek

We sure had a fun time at Cow Creek.   This is a State Rec. area north of Pierre on the Oahe Dam.  We were there last year also but that time it was real windy.  This time it was a calm peaceful couple of days.

We left on Sunday after we had visited with one of the girls at the Detention Center.   It's only 2 hours up to Pierre so we were there around 4:30.  One other camper in the whole campground so we had our pick of sites.  We should have gone to the north part but the wind can be so bad coming off the water  so we stay behind the tree line.   But it was calm the whole time we were there.

We went fishing right off shore.  Toby enjoyed being by the water even if he couldn't go jumping in after sticks.  His leg really isn't healing like we had hoped and the vet said to hold off on the exercises.   We are seeing improvement and haven't cut down a whole lot on his walks but we didn't let him do nearly as much as Toby would have liked to.

He looks kind of dejected here.   But he was watching the bobber!!   Good dog!!

Gary went out early in the morning on Tuesday (we slept in on Monday)......I stayed in bed and enjoyed some more sleep!!!    Then after thinking he would have been back  -- I went looking but couldn't find any sign of him........ I did finally find him.  He had a pail with 3 catfish in it.  Said they really hit hard right away but when I got there (no pole -- just waiting on breakfast) they had quit.   When I walked back to get the fillet knife and a pan, the one other camper and her husband asked if I had some fish.   I told her Gary had some catfish and she got real excited.   I asked if she knew how to clean them (she was Oriental)...and she did.   She came along and filleted  the first one for Gary and then he did the rest.   She obviously knew what she was doing.

We also caught 3 bass, and 2 northern pike ---- oh and then that stupid carp! So it was a fun time. 

 We did some bird watching .....sure wish I knew what these big birds are.   They  were maybe a little bigger than a robin.

 Gorgeous sunset.....I should have been out on that point the night before because the colors were awesome and I missed it.

 My big bass......

 We could barely see these geese with the naked eye ---- they were across the water from us.   My camera is a nice one -- and I caught these shots.  They sure were noisy!!!  They must have been close to 1/2 mile away.

I searched and searched for that bobber -- in my camera view finder........ I finally found it.   Isn't that a cool shot!!!   Applause.....Applause       😊

There was a down side to our campout.......TICKS!!  Gary must have picked 20 of the buggers off!!  He'd have one crawling on his hand......then in his neck.....then his hand.   I had one --- but goodness.   We were on our way home and Gar says  "here!! under my finger .......you got it?!?!  You have to be fast --- cause they're faster!!  But I did get it and then YUCK --- you have to use your fingernails and break them in half in order to kill them.

We left Skip home alone.   No - he wasn't alone --- Lee was here to take care of him.   He was pretty happy to see us.   But then he's a puppy so he's just happy and dingy all the time anyway.

Well, it's been a big day and the camper is back in the barn .....and I am going to bed.

Love to one and all.
Gary and Barb